With RTD looking to reduce bus and rail line services in Denver amid financial constraints, people are rallying against the proposed cuts.

RTD’s Operations, Safety and Security Committee during a Wednesday meeting discussed potential cuts and recommended cutting $31 million from the agency’s budget, which would eliminate up to 10% of bus and light rail routes. The recommended cuts included ending the 16th Street FreeRide program, one of the most popular routes in Denver.

FreeRide last year saw more than 2.3 million boardings, making it the third most popular bus route in the city, according to RTD. The service traverses a 1.2-mile stretch between the Capitol and Union Station, and was promoted as a key feature of the 16th Street mall renovation, which was completed last summer.

The proposal elicited a plea from the Downtown Denver Partnership to maintain the downtown lines. President and CEO Kourtny Garrett said in a Thursday letter to RTD’s board members that with increases in ridership and reliability, the downtown lines are imperative to maintaining downtown Denver’s economic engine.

“Downtown continues to serve as an economic driver for the entire region, and at this fragile moment, it is imperative that we remain resolute in our dedication to rejuvenating and protecting investments that have been made for decades,” Garrett wrote in the letter.

Garrett also spoke during the meeting’s public comment period and similarly pleaded for the cuts not to be made to the 16th Street shuttle. Many other Denver residents also spoke during the public comment period and pushed back against the proposed cuts.

The residents spoke on the importance of RTD’s bus and rail services in Denver, including the ease of access for transportation for homeless people and those with disabilities.

RTD has been operating with a “significant” budget deficit since 2024 after the conclusion of federal COVID financial relief funding, according to the committee’s agenda packet for the Wednesday meeting.

The agency is facing a $200 million budget deficit next year, and RTD could cut as much as 20% of its services across the board.

If RTD cuts 20%, that could mean a reduced service on 19 routes and the discontinuation of 39 routes. The agency could save as much as $62 million if those cuts are approved.

The Board of Directors will make final decisions about service cuts in the coming months.

Denver Gazette digital strategist Michael Braitwaite contributed to this report.